西班牙左翼政府于10月20日批准了新的社会福利措施，包括增加对照顾重病儿童家庭的支持，这距离11月的提前大选仅有一个月多一点时间。
Spain’s left-wing government approved new social benefits before the Nov 29 snap election, including more help for families with seriously ill children and wider survivor pensions for unmarried couples. The decree-law also extends temporary sick pay for women with menopause-related conditions.
这些措施还延长了因更年期相关疾病而患病的女性的临时病假工资发放期限，并扩大了非婚伴侣领取遗属养老金的资格范围。
It takes effect at once but needs parliamentary approval within 30 days. The move follows scrutiny of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez by the electoral commission over a Moncloa news conference. The commission said the campaign does not stop the government from doing its normal work.
政府发言人埃尔马·萨伊斯为时机选择进行了辩护，称政府有责任继续回应公民的需求。
AI generated MADRID - Spain’s left-wing government on Oct 20 approved new social benefits, including increased support for families caring for seriously ill children, ahead of a snap election in November.
“政府继续执政。必须继续回应公民面临的挑战，”她在每周内阁会议后的新闻发布会上表示。
The measures also extend temporary sick pay for women suffering from menopause-related conditions and widen access to survivor pensions for unmarried couples. Government spokeswoman Elma Saiz defended the timing, saying the government had a duty to continue addressing citizens’ needs.
这些措施通过皇家法令法形式通过，可立即生效，但需在30天内获得议会批准。萨伊斯表示，扩大社会保障与财政纪律及强劲的经济指标相兼容。
“This government continues to govern. It must continue to respond to the challenges facing citizens,” she told a news conference after a weekly cabinet meeting. The measures were adopted through a royal decree-law, allowing them to take effect immediately but requiring parliamentary approval within 30 days.
此前在10月初，西班牙选举委员会因社会党籍总理佩德罗·桑切斯在宣布11月29日提前大选的第二天，于其官邸蒙克洛阿宫举行新闻发布会，而对其启动了程序。
Saiz said expanding social protection was compatible with fiscal discipline and strong economic indicators. The announcement comes after Spain’s electoral commission opened proceedings against Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez earlier in October over a news conference at his official Moncloa residence the day after he called a snap election for Nov 29.
委员会称，桑切斯超出了单纯介绍内阁决定的范围，他赞扬本届政府的执政记录、批评反对党，并表达了希望获得更大议会多数席位的愿望。
The commission said Sanchez had gone beyond presenting Cabinet decisions by praising his government’s record, criticising the opposition and expressing a desire to secure a larger parliamentary majority.
“首相可以捍卫自己的政治立场并批评其他政党的立场，但在选举期间，他不得利用因其职务而掌握的公共资源来这样做，”该委员会表示。
“The prime minister can defend his political position and criticise those of other parties, but during the electoral period he cannot do so by taking advantage of the public resources available to him by virtue of his office,” the commission said.
它补充称，然而，竞选活动并不妨碍宪法机构履行其正常职能，包括政府通过各项措施。
It added, however, that the election campaign did not prevent constitutional institutions from carrying out their normal functions, including the government’s adoption of measures.
在大选前的大多数民意调查中，桑切斯领导的社会党落后于主要反对党、保守派的人民党（PP）。
Sanchez’s Socialists trail the main opposition conservative Popular Party (PP) in most opinion polls ahead of the election.